Public Administration Theory: Normative Necessity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L Weimer
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Complex World ◽  
Public Administrators ◽  
Good Society ◽  
Disciplinary Boundaries ◽  
Demand Theory ◽  
Descriptive Theory ◽  
Descriptive Theories ◽  
Do So

Abstract Intellectual and practical endeavors almost always demand theory to help make sense of the complex world. Descriptive theories seek to predict what will happen, or at least understand what has happened, in particular circumstances. Normative theories seek to inform agents about what they should want or do in particular circumstances. As professionals seeking to promote good governance, public administrators must be able to predict consequences. To do so, they can make use of any relevant descriptive theory without concern for disciplinary boundaries. I argue that this catholic approach largely, though not completely, obviates the value of unique descriptive theories specific to public administration. In contrast, public administrators require normative theories that speak to the choices they must make as members of a profession that seeks to promote the good society. Thus, although as public administration scholars we face the same pressure as our disciplinary colleagues to create descriptive theories, our most important theoretical contributions are likely to be normative.

Law and public administration: convergence and symbiosis

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Harlow
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Similar Pattern ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Administrative Law ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Administrators

In the light of historical tensions, this article considers some classical administrative law responses to changing techniques of public administration. Rejecting the customary reproach that law is unresponsive to the needs of public administrators, the article nonetheless identifies a widespread conviction that control and accountability are the primary objectives of administrative law. The response of administrators overwhelmed by procedural requirements is to fall back on ‘soft law’ techniques. The article notes the growing use of ‘soft law’ and recourse to ‘soft’ techniques of governance in the European Union, together with a possible convergence of legal and administrative values, as standards of ‘good governance’ and ‘principles of good administration’ acceptable to both sides are promulgated and enforced by courts. As ‘good governance’ standards are disseminated by international and transnational institutions, the article predicts a similar pattern of tension and evasion, as procedurally oriented administrative law systems enforced by transnational adjudicative organs develop to occupy the global administrative space.

COMPETENCE APPROACH IN EUROPEAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: ESSENCE AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS (ARCHETYPAL ASPECT)

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (14) ◽  
pp. 132-143
Author(s):  
Martha Ivanivna Karpa
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
European Public ◽  
Territorial Organization ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Definition Of

The article reveals the main features of the competence approach in the practice of European public administration. The features of the competence approach in public administration are determined on the basis of analysis of the basic concepts of public administration. In the dynamics of the formation and development of popular theories of interaction between state and local authorities, such as the theory of a free community, community (public) and public and state (the theory of municipal dualism), we can trace a number of characteristic features of a competency approach, which manifests itself both through the general theoretical relations and manifestations, and through the practice of coexistence of public authorities. There is a problem of definition and distribution of public functions as a prerequisite for defining and shaping the competences of public institutions. An important issue in the context of a competent approach is the institutional consolidation of functions in the context of the existence of the basic models of territorial organization of power. In each of the varieties of the Governance concept (Responsive Governance concept, Democratic Governance concept, Good Governance concept), the specifics of the use of competencies are defined. The archetypal symbols in the European public administration are singled out using the analysis of competence in public administration in its main constituents. A brief description of the archetypal aspect of European public administration is given. The main components of competence are shown in connection with the existing archetypal symbols and the characteristic trends of their development. Their connection is shown according to the scheme “the entity component (who?) — the object component (what?) — the administrative component (how?) — the basis (in what environment?)”. Concerning the trends of development of a competence approach in the context of practice and theory of public administration, it is determined that modern concepts of public administration are characterized by shifting the balance between state and public institutions to the sphere of common goals and tasks, and thus responsibility. The joint activity of all subjects of society requires new forms of cooperation, definition of the spheres and subjects of each entity’s activity for effective cooperation, distribution of functions and competences of the entities, formation and consolidation of their status characteristics.

Fuzzy Lines: Using the Best-Selling Novel to Illustrate the Blurring Boundaries of “Public”

Public Voices ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Nolan J. Argyle ◽  
Gerald A. Merwin
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Contracting Out ◽  
The Public ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Civic Community ◽  
Additional Area ◽  
Do So

Privatization, contracting out, and a host of other current trends blur the line between public and private—they create what at best is a fuzzy line. This study examines yet one additional area where the lines between public and private have gotten even fuzzier—the best selling novel. It uses the writings of Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler,two authors whose names on a novel guarantee best-seller status. It will do so in the context of what a civic community and civil society are, and how they relate to the public-private question, a question that has renewed life in public administration.

Training Administrators To Use Microcomputers

1985 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Robert H. Rittle
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Computer Literacy ◽  
City Management ◽  
Public Administrators ◽  
Public Administration Review ◽  
Management Association ◽  
University Training

Some are born to computer literacy, while others have literacy thrust upon them! Students who comprise the next generation of political scientists and public administrators will, in many cases, fall into the latter category. This article concerns the role of university training programs in meeting the increasing demands for microcomputer skills.The January, 1984 issue of Public Administration Review included five articles concerning microcomputers in local government. These articles anticipate “major changes in the way local governments organize and the means by which they carry out operations,” as a result of microcomputer technology. Predicting a significant impact of microcomputers in local government, the International City Management Association has also published a major monograph on microcomputer use (Griesemer, 1984).

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of evidence based policies in the era of digitalization

2020 ◽  
Vol 338 ◽  
pp. 477-485
Author(s):  
András Bojtor ◽  
Gábor Bozsó
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Evaluation Phase ◽  
Analysis Of Results ◽  
Strategic Policy ◽  
Political Conditions ◽  
International Comparative

A well-functioning administration with embedded institutions enables the formulation of a competitive environment which propitiously effects the country’s economic growth. In case of an intervention, the results and impacts should be measured and continuously monitored in a strategic policy cycle. These activities can be done on project and national levels and at the same time there could be a legitimate claim for carrying out international comparative analysis of results. The majority of public administration developments belongs to the scope of e-government. The evidencebased policy making is a component of good governance next to transparency, sustainability, efficiency, integrity and people centricity. Government obligations and responsibilities in evaluations vary from country to country. Digitalization brings new challenges for public service and governments are taking various measures in response to them. Evaluation can fulfil its role in the strategic policy cycle only if it can meet the political conditions with attention to ethical and methodological standards; can adapt to the digitalized circumstances. The paper aims a deeper analysis of evaluation phase, and to summarize the possible new methods reaching better results in public services and public administration services. In this paper we are going to conduct an international comparative analysis with a special attention given to a public administration development program in Hungary.

“Quality of Government”

2021 ◽  
pp. 41-62
Author(s):  
Nikolas Kirby ◽  
Jonathan Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Political Philosophy ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Alternative Account

Until recently, with some notable exceptions, contemporary political philosophy has had little to say about topics of “governance.” Unlike earlier thinkers, contemporary theorists have largely ignored topics such as bureaucracy, institutions, corruption, public integrity, and public service. Accordingly, Rothstein and Jan Teorell’s idea of “Quality of Government” (“QoG”), combined with the work of other political scientists and public administration theorists, invites a welcome and long overdue return to topics of governance for political philosophy. This chapter first aims to clarify the precise question to which “QoG” is intended to be answer, that is, the question of “good governance” and distinguish it from more traditional philosophical concerns with justice and legitimacy. We review the limited philosophical landscape, and then critique of the QoG as a theory of good governance. Finally, we tentatively outline an alternative account, and consider directions for future research.

What Next?

PMLA ◽  
1953 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
William Riley Parker
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Complex World ◽  
Press Releases ◽  
Speaking Up ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
Do So

As a professor of English, who also happens to be entrusted with the direction of this new MLA project, I hope that every foreign language teacher in this room realizes what a difficult problem of translation the preceding speeches pose. It is my job to translate them into 'action. If I do not do so, with your help, we shall merely have spent a morning congratulating or consoling ourselves. After what you have heard, I probably don't need to tell you that my acts of translation will inevitably lose much of the peculiar eloquence and overtone of the originals, but I do want to assure you that I shall try my best to preserve the spirit of what has been said today. Don't expect me, in other words, to be always literal; and don't expect me to do anything that will stir you as you have been stirred this morning. From now on, it is a workaday matter of files and figures, committees and conferences, interviews and press releases, and endless letters. We live, for better or for worse, in such a complex world. Our critics or detractors have long understood this, and have taken advantage of our otherworldliness. Let them take notice: we may betray our inexperience for a time, but the MLA is this morning outside the classroom and the study, speaking up for something it deeply believes in.

FORMATION OF THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM IN THE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SPHERE

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
Valerii Bakumenko ◽  
Oleksiy Krasnorutskyy ◽  
Anatolii Hatsko
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Knowledge System ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Administration Reform

The modernization of the management system and the knowledge management model is needed in the context of the public administration reform, taking into account the concept of decentralization and Good Governance. That is why the article focuses on the author’s approach to substantiating the formation of a modern knowledge system in public management and administration in Ukraine. It is proved that the approach to the knowledge system formation should be based on the identification of the needs of public administration objects. The need to comply with the necessary diversity law for a management subject of public entity regarding its knowledge of the entity has been identified. The content of the principle «from general to specific» for the objects of public administration is considered. The formation structure of the basic knowledge system in the public sphere is presented, which unites a number of blocks. The first block deals with the system of basic knowledge of public management and administration. The second block deals with the idea of a public authorities system at different levels. The third block concerns the formation of basic knowledge about public service. The fourth block concerns the formation of a basic knowledge system about current trends in the development of domestic public administration. The fifth block deals with the knowledge about the development and implementation of public policy and implementation of public administration. The sixth block deals with the consideration of public administration as a deliberate activity to establish internal procedures and processes in public administration to ensure their smooth functioning. The seventh block concerns the knowledge system for ensuring social stability. The eighth block is a glossary of basic terms and the ninth is a bibliography. The proposed approach is the scientific substantiation of the development of educational and professional programs of the basic textbook and standards for the specialty 281 – «Public Management and Administration». Keywords: knowledge, public administration, the necessary diversity law, public policy, public service, public authorities, public stability.

Using Web Sites to Improve Fiscal Transparency

2012 ◽  
pp. 232-260
Author(s):  
Tolga Demirbas
Keyword(s):  
Web Sites ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Public Administrators ◽  
Governance System ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fiscal Transparency ◽  
New Public

Fiscal transparency today is considered as an essential element of both good governance and e-governance. Therefore, in the new public management and budgeting reforms made by governments, it is clearly observed that fiscal transparency is one of the key elements. E-government technologies, and especially the internet, are supportive to the efforts on the part of governments offering unprecedented opportunities to public administrations enabling the dissemination of fiscal information and improving the e-governance system. In Turkey, where there is the tradition of Continental Europe, the reforms made through new laws in early 2000 contain various legal and institutional regulations to improve fiscal transparency and encourage the public administrators to use websites in an attempt to enhance fiscal transparency. This chapter, within the context of evaluating the endeavors in question, examines the websites of municipalities in Turkey in terms of fiscal transparency and eventually presents some suggestions for the improvement of the e-governance system.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document